How much is enough? (Another ‘should I thread’)

tokaynoe

New member
Jan 9, 2020
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Hi everyone, I am new here and became a member to get a better sense of parakeet behavior and needs. I am looking to POTENTIALLY aquire a buddy bird of my own and need some more opinions before I make a final decision. So my main problem is, I keep reading ‘several/couple/few hours as the recommendation of time needed for a bird to interact with their human, but HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH/NOT ENOUGH? 1-2, 3-4 or does it need 10 minutes every hour? How much time do YOU spend with buddy bird(s). I would love some actual examples if you don’t mind posting. I work 5 days a week and am gone for about 10 hours a day. The species that I’ve been looking at/reading about are budgies, lineolated and Bourke’s parakeets. If I did get a parakeet my routine would be something like this: Feed/water and clean what’s necessary in the morning (around 6:00 AM) along with talking to the bird for a few minutes before leaving. After getting home in the evenings around 4:30 PM I would probably let it out (once tame) until sleepy time. My family owned a cockatiel when I was little and I miss that little guy even though my sister was its preferred human, but there were 6 of us and usually had someone home. I don’t want to traumatize or otherwise compromise a creature I like so much, so yea, please give me all your opinions on the matter. Also, I am looking for a bird that will like my attention and not just “tolerate “ me which is the only reason I’m looking at a single bird, but I am not completely opposed to a duo.
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
Bourks don't like much hands on I think. Unless you get a hand tamed parakeet they are pretty difficult to befriend, though some have good success with lots of dedication. Why not a cocktail? Or a parrolet?

Many people work, and have good relationship with their birds.

I don't work , so mine are out all day, I out them up for an hour or two a day so they won't scream their heads off on days I'm sick. I pet each one about a half hour, and they hang out on my shoulder probably 2 hours a day , and random pets and talking to them through out the day.
 

Zettobi

New member
Oct 10, 2018
27
1
Australia
Parrots
Sunburst - Sun Conure (hatched: 18/3/18)
I have a sun conure and work full time, our daily routine starts with me getting up before the sun rises to prepare for work and have breakfast, then as the sun starts rising (around 6am) I get her food ready and let her out for half an hour with me until I leave for work.

My partner is at home in the afternoons at the moment so she can come out at around 4pm, but once his times change she won't be able to come out again until 6pm (when I get home). We aim for 2-3 hours out each day though we would love to have her out more, so we've begun bird-proofing a spare bedroom so that she can stay out to get exercise all day but spend personal time with my partner and I when we're home.

As long as you're providing plenty of enrichment inside of their enclosures (that you know they interact with) and provide some out of cage time wherever possible for exercise and bonding then you should be all good! This is much easier for the smaller parrots than the big ones who seem more demanding in attention.

You could always get 2 birds instead of 1 so that they can entertain each other when you're not around, but you'll have to be very vigilant in providing them positive interactions with you so that they don't become disinterested in humans.
 
OP
tokaynoe

tokaynoe

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Jan 9, 2020
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Laurasea, I don’t know why but I haven’t been drawn to any of the parrotlets or love birds I’ve seen yet. As for a cockatiel, it’s being considered as well, I just thought they might need a bit more stimulation than a smaller parakeet. I don’t know if that’s true at all though as I don’t have much experience with parakeets. I heard that about the bourke’s and so would only go for a hand-raised one as you mentioned. I found a bourke’s hand raising breeder near me and am willing to wait for one to be available if that’s what I decide on. There is a tropical bird store near me with hand- raised linnies and there’s a cobalt one I keep picturing in my head.

Zettobi, that’s sounds similar to my situation except my spouse works with me so we both disappear for 10 hours. I would definitely get a flight cage and we would provide more interaction during weekends and days off as well.
 

herbwx

New member
Jan 3, 2020
20
3
Maryland
Parrots
50+ years with parakeet experience and last 10 years with parrotlets. Currently have parrotlet born approx 2010.
My experience is mostly with parakeets and parrotlets. I've found that both breeds are pretty good about keeping themselves entertained when alone, if you provide them enough toys or other stimulation.

It's nice to leave them foraging toys, to keep them busy while you are not around. I would pick up small pine cones around the house, wash them well, and then bake them in the over for about 15 mins just to dry them and to kill any remaining bacteria .... then coat one with peanut butter followed by sprinkling over seeds, raisins -- whatever your bird likes. Try to stuff the food down between the pine cone grooves in order to challenge the bird to get to the food. Keeps them busy!

Before retiring, I would hurriedly leave for work at 5:00am (Wash, DC rush hour!) and return by around 4:00pm. I'd visit 5 mins in the morning while giving him fresh water and checking his food supply, etc.; and engage in about 1 minute of conversation. I would leave a radio on softly for background music during the work day. The bird may not actually appreciate it, but it surely doesn't hurt to do so.

In the afternoon, I'd set aside about an hour when I first got home to interact and do training. But you must take your queues from the bird -- some days may only be 10-15 mins before one/both of us became frustrated, some days went an hour -- or even more. Depending on how that first hour went, I might come back for another short session before birdie bedtime, usually around dusk. Obviously in winter with it getting dark earlier, the evening times to interact are much shorter or non-existent compared to summer evenings.
 

Jottlebot

Member
Aug 29, 2012
507
14
Shropshire, UK
Parrots
Orange-winged Amazon - RIP Charlie,
Spock - Common Mynah,
McCoy - Alexandrine
I have an Alexandrine, the biggest parakeet there is! I work full time too. My usual routine is to stay in bed for every single possible minute in the morning! I don't have breakfast and I don't say hello to my bird(s) either! I clean and stock up dry food the night before when it's a work day and feed fresh for breakfast at weekends and their evening meal in the week. Pellets are always available, but only in foraging toys. I have 2 that I rotate, but I will get more in the future.

My husband is at home most days and he'll get them up by uncovering them between 9.30 and 11.30 AM. I get in from work at about 6 and will have McCoy out for an average of 2 hours in the week, but I don't like to put him to bed later than 9.30 PM or he turns into a monster! At the weekends I can have him out for longer, but it depends on him, sometimes he isn't interested and will just stay in his cage! He wants to come out at about 6.30 if he hasn't been out earlier and let's me know. When he's out in the evening he has my FULL attention! If he wants it, which he doesn't always.

He is happy and healthy and the routine lack of routine works well for all of us.
 
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tokaynoe

tokaynoe

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Jan 9, 2020
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Thank you for your help guys! After talking to a couple people at my local bird shops and taking into consideration everything, we decided on a cockatiel today. We came across two babies and a pearl just loved my hands, so we payed for her. She is still being weened and so will stay with one of the employees fir the the next 3 weeks or so until it’s ready to come home. She/it was born on christmas too, I’m super excited!
 

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